DENVER – The Colorado Lottery posted record sales of $505.8 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008 – the strongest sales in the Lottery’s 25-year history. Scratch tickets led the way, setting records for the fifth straight year, with sales of $336 million.
"We strive to provide players with high-quality innovative games," said Colorado Lottery Director Jack Boehm. "Colorado Millionaire, our first $20 Scratch game, proved especially popular, earning an average of $1.8 million per week during its first three months of play."
The Lottery’s jackpot games also showed impressive gains this year. Powerball rose by $8 million over fiscal year 2007 with sales of $109.6 million. Lotto posted sales of $41.1 million, the game’s best year since 2003. Cash 5 ended the year with a record $19.1 million in sales.
Strong sales across the board allowed the Lottery to give back in a big way. The Lottery generated $122.3 million in proceeds (the second best year on record), contributing the following amounts to the agency’s proceeds partners:
• $53.1 million for Great Outdoors Colorado
• $48.9 million for the Conservation Trust Fund
• $12.2 million for Colorado State Parks
• $8.1 million for the newly established Public School Capital Construction Assistance Fund, which will help finance the repair and rebuilding of secondary schools statewide.
Lottery players won big this year as well. In October 2007, the Lottery celebrated its first Powerball jackpot winners. The SEEP Financial Group claimed a $20 million jackpot, the third largest jackpot awarded in the Lottery’s history. Eight winners also hit Lotto jackpots, two more than the previous year. Six other players became millionaires by winning the top prize in Colorado Millionaire or by hitting five of six numbers in Powerball and choosing the Power Play option. Overall, the Lottery paid out $314.9 million in prizes in fiscal year 2008.
"In the coming year, the Colorado Lottery plans to update our back office system and create a strategic business plan,” said Boehm. "These things should improve Lottery performance and provide increased support to Lottery retailers and give players the fun and entertaining experience they have come to expect from the Colorado Lottery."
